For an authentic insight into how the locals live, stop at one of these squares in Madrid for coffee, window shopping, or people watching. These squares, listed in 100 Things to do in Madrid, are some of the best places in the capital of Spain.
Sun Gate
Puerta del Sol, better known as Sol, is the square in the heart of Madrid (and indeed, of all of Spain). Famous features include the Royal Post Office which serves as the president of the Madrid office. It is also where the locals gather every New Years Eve to celebrate the new year.
Main Square
A few steps from Puerta del Sol is the Plaza Mayor, the largest square in Madrid. Food is expensive, but it is a good place to enjoy breakfast. The square is home to the Christmas market, which has been a favorite custom since 1860.
Plaza de Oriente
This beautiful square is located in front of the Royal Palace of Madrid. Also nearby are the Royal Theater, the city’s opera originally built in 1818, and the Royal Monastery of the Incarnation, a women’s convent.
Gran Via
If you want to go shopping, head to Gran Vía, Madrid’s main shopping boulevard with many famous shops. Gran Vía is also known for its architecture. If you are looking for some night life, this is the place to be.
Huertas Street
Huertas Street, commonly called Huertas, dictates the character of this part of Madrid. Small bars, classy restaurants, ice cream parlors and loud music bars mean that the old, the young and the tourists rub shoulders here.
Plaza San Andres
In this grandiose Romanesque church, children play outside while their parents drink in the vibrant café around the corner. The church has undergone various reconstructions since the 17th century, and parts of the interior were destroyed during the Spanish civil war in the 1930s.
Plaza Santa Ana
Designed in 1810, Plaza Santa Ana became a favorite of intellectuals, poets, artists, and writers, including the American writer Ernest Hemingway. It has many cafes and the Teatro Español, the oldest theater in Madrid, which opened in 1583.
Straw Square
The Plaza de la Paja, which means “straw square,” is said to be the oldest square in Madrid. You will find two vegetarian restaurants here. At the bottom of this sloping square is a garden called the Garden of the Prince Anglona.
Spain Square
If you arrive at Plaza España from Gran Vía, your first impressions of Plaza España may not be so good. However, the square is bigger than it seems. Here you will find some of the tallest skyscrapers in Madrid.
Segovia street
This winding street in the historic Palacio neighborhood passes the best paella restaurant in Madrid. It also goes under the city’s famous viaduct, which is pedestrian-friendly.
